Earlier this year, my mom was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. For those of you that don't know, Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the Trigeminal nerve in the face. Simple tasks like chewing, speaking, applying makeup, drinking, smiling, or brushing the teeth can cause the stabbing, electric shock-like pain throughout the face.
*Please note: I am not a medical professional. This blog is based off my family's personal experience with Trigeminal Neuralgia.
It's nicknamed the suicide disease because it triggers a jolt of excruciating pain throughout the face and there is essentially no real cure, which has driven many to suicide. While there are treatments available such as surgery and medications, neither can guarantee full recovery or relieve the symptoms completely.
For the first half of this year, my mom struggled to find any relief for her pain. Eating and talking became nearly impossible for her and she would frequently stop mid-conversation with a face filled with agony. If you have ever watched a loved one in pain, it is very hard. To be honest, it became difficult to be around her at times because there was absolutely nothing any of us could do or say to help, except watch her suffer. My family was constantly researching different methods to try such as roll-on essential oils, cold packs, still point inducer, among other things.
She finally began to experience some relief when she started visiting a chiropractor once a week. However, the pain was still occurring on a more regular basis than she liked, so she decided to give acupuncture a try, which had been highly suggested by those that suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia. I got a few recommendations from friends for acupuncturists in Sarasota, but I started researching for those that had direct experience with Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is how I stumbled upon SRQ Acupuncture & Massage. SRQ Acupuncture & Massage tailors their treatments to each patient and ailment to maintain the harmony between health and the environment. Dr. Hynes, who my mom is currently seeing, is a Licensed, Board Certified Acupuncture Physician, and received her Master's Degree at the East West College of Natural Medicine.
At the height of dealing with Trigeminal Neuralgia, my mom would take anywhere between 8 - 10 Ibuprofen a day to get through the day, and she was also prescribed Baclofen. Over the last month, my mom has gone to appointments 2 - 3 times a week, and almost immediately after her initial appointment, her quality of life started to return. She no longer has to rely on taking daily Ibuprofen and only has had to take an occasional Baclofen.
One of the things that my mom loves most about SRQ Acupuncture & Massage is that it's very calming and it doesn't have that typical cold office setting. Dr. Hynes is extremely accommodating, and has even told my mom to message her in the evening or on the weekends if she is in severe pain or has an attack.
While everyone's experience with Trigeminal Neuralgia is extremely different, our family has found that acupuncture has allowed my mom to get some much-needed relief and has brought a sense of normalcy back into her life. Even though she will never completely be pain-free, Dr. Hynes and her acupuncture treatment has helped her get through daily tasks and rid her of constant pain.
If you or someone you know suffers from Trigeminal Neuralgia, I highly recommend giving acupuncture a try. SRQ Acupuncture & Massage is located at 1810 South Tuttle Avenue in Sarasota, Florida. For more information, visit SRQAcupuncture.com!